Mariano Rivera will be honored at Arm & Hammer Park on Thursday, August 7th, before Double-A Trenton’s scheduled game against Altoona. Rivera will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and be presented with a check from the MVP Foundation on behalf of his church, Refugio de Esperanza (Refuge of Hope).

You can read more info about the ceremony right here and purchase tickets using this link. Use the special offer code “MVP” while purchasing tickets online and $3 will be donated to the Mariano Rivera Foundation. Special thanks goes out to Eric Lipsman, the Thunder’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Sales & Partnerships, for the heads up and all his help and kindness over the years.

The Yankees and the Trenton Thunder announced an eight-year extension of their player development contract at a press conference this afternoon. The current agreement runs through 2014, so the new deal will keep the two clubs together through 2022.

Trenton has been home to the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate since 2002, and by all indications the marriage has worked exceedingly well. The Thunder draw well at Waterfront Park and they’re nice and close for Major League rehab assignments and whatnot. Since hooking on with the Yankees, Trenton has won four division titles and two league championships in ten years. They’re in position to add to those totals this season as well.

On April 1st, Triple-A Scranton will head down I-476 to take on Double-A Trenton in an exhibition game at Trenton’s beautiful Waterfront Park. As Chad Jennings notes, the 2007 Trenton Thunder team, the Double-A Eastern League champs, will be honored before the game. This is a pretty cool idea by the Yanks, of course this wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining without the farm system Cashman & Co. have built.